Theme Parks Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Best Disney World Gift Shops on Property

May 22, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Whether you look at it from a cynical angle, or appreciate it as part of the fun, gift shops are a huge part of the Walt Disney World experience. They’re everywhere, because people want their Walt Disney World souvenirs – and who can blame them? When you leave a major attraction, you’re dumped right into a gift shop themed to the experience – the same goes for some restaurants. To avoid spending tons of your vacation time browsing for the right thing, here’s our list of the Best Disney World Gift Shops on Property.

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Sometimes the gift shop is actually part of the experience. You can see this is the case all over World Showcase where the gift shops are so intricately themed and the merchandise is so unique it hardly seems fair to include them or single any out. I will though… later. Some gift shops in Disney World work on a more general level – they’re large and have plenty of different types of merchandise to choose from. These are the best place to get your Walt Disney World souvenirs. Finally, there’s the hotel gift shops that have a variety of merchandise as well, but also tend to have hotel specific products on hand. In most of these there’s a fair degree of personal taste, but objectively, some hold better to theming and product – those are the ones we’ve decided to focus on.

Best Attraction Gift Shop

Memento Mori is hands down the best attractions gift shop. However, my runner up is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, so I have to wonder if I have a preference for the macabre or if Disney is just really good at it. Memento Mori is unique in that it isn’t part of the attraction exit, but I guess you could say it’s just that good that people seek it out anyway. The merchandise available here comes in a wide range from decor, to dishes, all of it themed to the famed attraction.

Best Restaurant Gift Shop

There are a number of restaurants that spill you right into a gift shop. Most of these are geared toward kids, but The Boathouse is an exception. At first glance the gift shop doesn’t seem out of place at all. However, when you think about it a little, it seems a little strange. It actually makes perfect sense, though, and the Boathouse gift shop has a very specific, unique vibe to it that fits in well with the Disney Springs theme. Therefore as a general way to commemorate a Disney Springs experience, or just out of enjoyment for the restaurant, this gift shop is a great place to pick up a Disney World souvenir.

Best World Showcase Gift Shop

This is the hardest category to analyze objectively. How does it not come down to personal taste? The theming at each of the World Showcase pavilions is so detailed and spot on. That extends to the gift shops, which in some cases are the primary focus of the pavilion. Suffice it to say, I love all of these shops for different reasons. If I were rich going into Epcot, I would be poor coming out. In my personal opinion, the best gift shop has to be the department store Mitsukoshi, which sponsors the Japan Pavilion.

Best General Gift Shop for (Disney World Souvenirs)

There are a lot of general gift shops you can go to that have a lot of Disney World merchandise to choose from. These are the places you can go to for just about any kind of Disney World souvenir. Magic Kingdom has the Emporium. Epcot has MouseGear, but the best has to be the World of Disney story in the Disney Springs Marketplace. It’s massive and has so many departments to choose from. It’s also close to the Marketplace Co-op, if you are looking for more unique Disney merchandise.

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Best Hotel Gift Shop

Finally, the best hotel gift shop really is whichever one you are staying at – any differences usually don’t make up for the time spent going somewhere different. Alternatively, the resort you love the most. The Deluxe resorts tend to have the better resort merchandise and from there it’s kind of hard to split hairs. However, there is one store that offers a little bit more theming and is overall a more stoppable store. By that, I mean there’s enough space and merchandise to make the shopping experience more fun – Boutiki at the Polynesian Village Resort.

What’s your favorite Disney World Gift Shop?

Free Printable Disneyland Ride Lists

May 15, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, you’re counting down until Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens at the Disney parks – and for Disneyland in California, it’s just a couple of weeks away! I’m eager for all the pictures, thoughts and stories from visitors able to go at that time, and will be eating up all the tips I can for when hubby and I tackle the one at WDW later this fall. Whether you’re going this month or later this year, here are some updated Free Printable Disneyland Ride Lists with height requirements for you to enjoy!

I’ve had many people asking if we would be updating our previous version of our Free Printable Disneyland Lists for all the changes in attractions (no more Bug’s Land, Jessie’s Critter Carousel, etc.) plus the addition of the long-awaited Star Wars area. I wanted to make sure to wait long enough in case of other switches, but now it’s ready for you to print off and use on your next trip to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Download and print your Disneyland Ride Lists HERE

While only the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be opening with the area on May 31st at Disneyland (and August 29th for Disney World), I still wanted to include Rise of the Resistance on this list for those preparing for their trip later – especially since we don’t have an open date for that attraction as of yet.

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What’s YOUR favorite Disney ride?

Disney Activity & Autograph Book

7 Things to NEVER Bring to Disney World – and 10 You MUST!

How to AVOID LINES at Walt Disney World

Our First Orlando Informer Meetup

May 8, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We love travelling, especially to theme parks for a truly exciting experience – but it can be difficult to manage not only cost-wise, but fitting in all that time away. Hearing about the meet up that Orlando Informer does a couple of times each year, I thought it could be the great weekend get-away, and it didn’t disappoint! Here’s all the things I loved the most about Our First Orlando Informer Meetup.

First of all, a bit about the Orlando Informer Meetup – it happens 2-3 times each year, and so far it’s usually 1 evening (ours was Saturday, April 27th). You can get into the parks as early as 5pm, then stay clear until 1:30am – meaning several hours after everyone else has to leave! You seriously feel like a VIP walking in, then getting on rides while others that aren’t a part of the event are turned away after their closing time.

Your admission ticket is these fun, light-up bracelets they give you at check-in. Once you pull the red tab, you can turn on the light-up feature so staff can easily see if you’re suppose to be there. And don’t worry, they have a table on each side of the park with Orlando Informer staff ready to help with any issues, such as if your bracelet isn’t working properly. We had that problem, and they replaced it without any hassle. Love the service!

Little-to-No Wait Times

People said that, because most of the crowds have to leave when the park ‘closes’, there’s hardly any wait times after that for rides – but I didn’t realize just how short they would be! Most of them were basically however long it took to walk through the line to the start of the ride, and those that did have some wait was like 5-10 minutes. Crazy!

Because of this, we were able to fit in so much in the 8.5 hours we were there, meaning it was a killer deal. The Orlando Informer Meetup cost about $182 after tax per person, and was totally worth it just for this part alone – but there’s EVEN MORE!

Lots of Free Food

I heard this was new for our event, but when we checked in each of us received a voucher that was good for 1 quick-service meal with drink, plus a snack and another drink to use in the parks anytime before they closed to the public. So not only do you kick-off your park time with some free food, but then once the public leaves and the actual event starts, they have TONS of places serving free food to try! This was really neat, since we were able to sample things from different restaurants and snack stands that normally we’d have to pay for (and since travel budgets can be tight, we rarely get to try much).

Yes, FREE BUTTERBEER (and pumpkin juice – my favorite), ice cream, and various foods like chicken strips, burgers, fried rice, veggies, rolls, popcorn, donuts – seriously, so many! Just check out our ‘food map’ we received at check in…

Easy Weekend Trip

Since one of the things that make trips difficult to manage is fitting in time away from work – but since this event is really only 1 night (though their upcoming one in December is TWO nights!), you can fit it into a weekend and not even miss any work! We flew in early Saturday morning, enjoyed some time around CityWalk (lunch at my favorite place – Toothsome), then were in the parks at 5pm. After we left totally exhausted but having had a complete blast, we crashed at the hotel about 2am, slept in until check-out, and flew home that evening. So two days for an incredible trip!

Less Crowds

Not just for ride wait times, but walking around a bunch of crowds in the park when you want to enjoy the scenery can be frustrating – but not during the Orlando Informer Meetup! We felt like some of only a few people in the park, not hitting crowds or anything once it was closed to the public. The girls were even able to break out into one of their dance routines randomly as we walked around the park without any fear of bumping into people!

This also meant plenty of fun, unobstructed photos all around the park where normally you’d have to fight with people to get a good shot.

Fun Characters & Activities

As if the food and rides weren’t enough, but they had characters all over the place for some added fun. Some of the characters were even part of an activity – finding the secret password for a speakeasy! Since I don’t drink, and had 2 minors with me, we didn’t participate in this – but we did watch plenty enjoying figuring out the clues. It seemed to be 1920’s mob-themed for this, which is really cool.

We’re big fans of music, so it was great that they had DJs all around the parks keeping people dancing and excited even into the wee hours of the morning.

I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Orlando Informer Meetup for an incredible experience at Universal Studios Orlando! Our first experience was better than we could have imagined, and we can’t wait to do it again in the future!

What’s your favorite thing about Universal Studios Orlando?

10 Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides

April 17, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I was provided tour guide services to facilitate this review. All opinions are entirely my own.

Want to know what one of my favorite things about vacations is? The memories – whether they’re good, bad, hilarious or down-right embarrassing! And yes, I have plenty of those 🙂 One of my least favorite things, on the other hand, is the stress and hassle involved. That’s one of several Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides for your next Orlando vacation! (originally shared March 2017)

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If you’ve been on a family trip in Orlando, I bet you can remember seeing the people who were just DONE with their ‘magical vacation’. The grumpy group arguing over everything, or the family that’s shoving through crowds to get to the next ride first. That’s NOT the best way to spend a vacation – and yes, I’ve been there and done that. After experiencing an absolutely amazing trip last year, though, I’m now convinced that my family needs a tour guide for all our future trips – for our own sanity and happy-memory-making sakes! And I know who I’m calling every time – Michael’s VIPs offers so much more than just showing you around. Here’s TEN reasons they’re my go-to Orlando Tour Guide service…

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

Time is money, or that’s what everyone says. Vacations are expensive enough, so why would you add the cost of a tour guide? Because it not only saves you the stress, but also can SAVE YOU MONEY overall! With their expertise, you get so much more done in a day, meaning you can go for less days. That’s fewer park tickets and hotel nights, less food and snacks you have to buy, less missed work or school. They’re able to get you places faster in the parks because they have it memorized. They know which ways to walk during what times of day due to traffic, which rides get busiest at what times, and when dining fits into the schedule to miss less actual park time. Time = Money, and these guys can save you a LOT of it!

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

Yes, another one that comes down to money – because I’m sure that’s likely the top reason most people are hesitant to hire a tour guide. The prices for a private guide directly from places like Walt Disney World cost you between $400-$600 an hour, while Universal Orlando is about $2,800-$3,200 per day. Ouch! Michael’s VIPs is only $125-$150 an hour depending on the time of year.

So they’re not only saving you a TON of money in that fee, but you get all these other perks that you may or may not get with the other guys…

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

Whether it’s help with hotel or dining reservations, transportation from place to place, getting tickets, or fast passes, Michael’s VIPs handles all of that for you – before you even get there! I loved not having to wake up super early to nab my desired dining times when they opened 180 days before our Disney World trip, because they took care of it for me. We discussed ahead of time what we wanted from our trip – where we wanted to eat, things we wanted to do, the types of rides we were most eager to try – and they took care of all the reservations. They helped us figure out which transportation worked best for different days or situations, which saved us a LOT of time. They even texted (yes, I had their actual cell phone numbers to text before, during and after our trip) to see how we enjoyed our trip!

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

I loved that for our whole trip – that included Walt Disney World AND Universal Orlando – we could use the same company and guides. We didn’t have to switch when we went to a new place, making it much easier for them to really get to know us and our likes or dislikes as far our vacation. If we had wanted to go try something else in Orlando, they’ve got you covered for that, too! They go beyond the parks, so whether you need a fun shopping venture, or a fancy evening out for business, they know the place and can guide you where you need to go.

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

If you hire a private guide directly from the parks, they kind of HAVE to promote their own company’s stuff. Even if a restaurant outside the park is better, they’re likely to encourage you to eat inside the park because it helps their bottom line. With Michael’s VIPs, they cover everything and have nothing extra to gain from promoting certain things or places over others – so you know they’re going to give completely honest input or recommendations for your trip.

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

Everyone know that the little things can make or break a great vacation, right? Well these guys want you to have the best experience possible, and the guides have fun ways of ensuring that. Take Renee for example – she brings little fake jewels to ‘toss’ to the kids during certain Little Mermaid shows or rides! Chris made sure to bring us ponchos for Kali River Rapids, and new right where to take our picture from the bridge. And Rob had learned enough about us to know my love of Star Wars, so he made sure to wear a Millennial Falcon shirt. It’s the little things, guys, that can make a world of difference and let you know that they really care about YOU!

#7: More Photos with Your Group

How many of us moms do a great job getting photos of the kiddos while on vacation, but often overlook getting ourselves in the photos? It’s super nice having a guide there to take photos of your whole family (or just you – because, why not?!) and really catch those fun memories. And yes, they’re happy to nab some with their phone and email or text it to you if you don’t want to shove your phone or camera at them constantly 🙂

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

If you have multiple kiddos, you know that having another adult around can be a life-saver. They can help keep them safe and close to the group, and even keep them happy skipping along so you and hubby can enjoy walking holding hands with each other for a change! Another thing is trying to figure out seating on rides – there’s another ‘big person’ to help the younger ones. Or if you want to sit off a ride, the guides are happy to go with the kids for a second round – or third or fourth or…. (yes, my kids do this on rides like Flight of the Hippogriff at Universal). And Jason was awesome helping us with our MANY bags from Universal that day – and they were HEAVY bags!

#9: They KNOW All The Things

If you’re like me, you don’t want to just randomly pick a bathroom and hope it’s a decently clean one at busy public places. Luckily, Michael’s VIPs know where the bathrooms are located and which are the best (and check whenever you’re near, in case someone needs to stop). They know where the entrances are to all the rides, and where to head for the best seats for performances.

At Universal, we suddenly really wanted Pumpkin Juice – but wanted to try the carbonated version – and Jason took us right over to the correct place to get that. They also know which rides have the best ques for entertaining kids who may be getting restless – although you won’t wait in many lines with this skilled crew! When kids need to get rid of some of their energy, they know right where to go for the play areas in the parks.

And they know the RIDES super well, like where the camera is if there’s a photo, and also how to score the best on Buzz Lightyear – check out my score following their trick!!!

The only thing they DIDN’T know and were unable to find out for me, was why at Magical Express at the airport arrival there were lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 – where did line 7 go?!

#10: They Work While You Rest

Some rides the guide had us go on while they went and took care of other work pieces, like scheduling more fast passes. We also enjoyed watching a short bit of Jedi Training Academy while resting in chairs in the shade, while Rob went and grabbed some waters. While we were enjoying lunch, even when they joined us because we LOVED their company, the guides would still be working – reorganizing the schedule on their phone to make up for a random ride closure (Hogwarts Express – so sad!) or seeing about switching up dining reservations because you changed your mind on what type of food you want. Guys, they work HARD – but make it all look like all fun and play!

I seriously can’t WAIT to go back to Orlando again, because I know Michael’s VIPs will make it a wonderfully fun, stress-free vacation for my whole family!

Our goal is fall-ish 2018 taking EVERYONE in my family – when are YOU going to go and give these tour guides a try?

To know more about each guide we got the pleasure of vacationing with last October, read HERE

Check with Get Away Today for the best prices on tickets and hotels for your vacation – and use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for even more savings!

Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

My First Harry Potter World Experience

April 10, 2019 by Danielle 4 Comments

I participated in Family Forward 2015, resulting in extra experiences and discounts. See more info here.

I freely admit that I’m a HUGE fan of Harry Potter – and my girl is even more so! She was in the middle of the series when we had our First Harry Potter World Experience in Orlando, so it was a really magical experience. Literally! (originally shared February 2016)

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Since there’s so much to tell about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I’m breaking it up into a few posts – this one I’ll share our thoughts on the atmosphere, rides and just the overall experience. Now there’s TWO separate areas for Harry Potter world – Diagon Alley in Universal Studios and then in Universal’s Islands of Adventure you have Hogsmeade. Make sure you have the park-hopper ticket so you can go between the two. The easiest way is on the Hogwarts Express, or you can just exit one park and go in the normal entrance of the other – but it’s quite a bit more walking as the Harry Potter stuff is near the back of both parks.

The Hogwarts Express was a fun experience – you get put into your own private train compartment (the 8 of us fit perfectly fine). Watch out the window and you can see some favorite characters from the show like Hagrid, the Weasley twins, even Hedwig! You HAVE to try the train both directions because each is completely different. Heads up – on the way from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade there’s a little dark moment with a ‘Dimentor’ (don’t worry, it’s just the screen and lights, not like a costumed person) that may scare little kids. Going the opposite way, those frightened of spiders may get a little ‘eeky’ moment, but again it’s just the screen. Our kids did fine after the first time, when they knew what to expect and just closed their eyes at that part. The train was one of their favorite things after that!

Be prepared and nab your Free Printable Universal Studios Florida Height Requirements here!

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

Right before you enter Diagon Alley from the Universal Park, you’ll see the Knight Bus – don’t forget to talk to the shrunken head and take some photos!

Head over to the famous ‘moving brick’ wall – the bricks don’t actually move, of course, but listen for the sound and your kids will be CERTAIN they can see them! Once through, there’s the path with plenty of shops and fun on both sides – and straight ahead is Gringotts bank, with the famous 60-ft Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon on top. He roars loudly and breathes fire every 10 minutes. You’ll hear a light rumble from him right before, so you have time to have your kids cover their ears if needed.

I LOVED the buildings and how well they did at making you truly feel like you were in Diagon Alley, even with all the ‘muggles’ around! A few stores down from the bank is the Gringotts Money Exchange – you can go in and talk to the head goblin, and even exchange your muggle money for some Gringotts Bank Notes (useable at Universal/Islands of Adventure as well as the Harry Potter lands – or keep as a souvenir). The kids thoughts this was AMAZING getting to use ‘wizard money’ to make some purchases.

Back by the Money Exchange is a out-of-the-way area which is less crowded than the main street – and has a lot of fun things to see such as a Mermaid well, The Hopping Pot (different beer brews, all FOUR varieties of Butter Beer, as well as some snacks and other drinks and Eternelle’s Elixers. The Elixer place is neat because you can buy different ‘potions’ (flavorings) to mix into your water for a fun little drink.

Both parks have PLENTY of photo opportunities – from a Hogwarts Express in Hogsmeade to a ton of fun window displays – try the Puking Pastilles at the Weasley’s joke shop in Diagon Alley. Check out the monster book or magical creatures at the pet shop, too!

I thought the Escape from Gringotts ride was remarkable – a 3-D, roller-coaster type ride where you need to get away from Voldemort, guards and more!

And yes, the top hat at Weasley’s store works just great – it’s right inside the brick entrance to Diagon Alley, and the Leaky Cauldron restaurant is right across from that. So much to do!

Rides in Diagon Alley: Escape from Gringotts, The Hogwarts Express

Where to eat in Diagon Alley: Leaky Cauldron, Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour

Shops at Diagon Alley: Ollivanders, Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes, Borgin & Burkes, Magical Menagerie, Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Quality Quidditch Supplies

Hogsmead at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Hogwarts castle is definitely a centerpiece of Hogsmeade – huge, beautiful and the detail is incredible! Inside is the Forbidden Journey ride (this was amazing – feet hanging in the air as you ‘fly’ through a Quidditch match, escape a dragon and brave the forbidden forest – warning if you get motion sickness easily!) – but you get to walk though the castle rooms on your way to the ride entrance! The pictures move and talk, there’s fun wizard newspapers, say hi to The Fat Lady and the Sorting Hat, plus hear some words from Dumbledore in his office.

The castle looks even more beautiful at night – and the rooftops were ‘snow-covered’, making the whole experience as real as possible! I seriously couldn’t get over the amount of detail that went into the whole village!

The Dragon Challenge was fun – a roller coaster where you’re almost ‘racing’ the other coaster! Red or blue – which do you pick? My kiddos absolute FAVORITE ride of the entire vacation was Flight of the Hippogriff – a kid-friendly roller coaster that was decently fun for the adults (which is good since they asked us to go on it dozens of times) but a real non-scary thrill for the younger ones! Don’t forget to bow to Buckbeak!

Rides at Hogsmeade: The Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff, The Hogwarts Express

Where to eat at Hogsmeade: Three Broomsticks

Shops at Hogsmeade: Dervish & Banges, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, Honeydukes, Ollivanders

We only had a few days for all of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure AND the Harry Potter stuff, so it was a bit rushed. I wish I had a whole day to truly look around into each thing – perhaps next time!

Coming Soon: Food at Harry Potter World, Great stuff for your visit to Harry Potter World

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Check out other fun family vacation experiences!

Printable Disney Banner

April 3, 2019 by Danielle 12 Comments

With our family Disney World vacation happening in a few months, we’re getting our countdown out and ready. I’m excited that many of YOU can enjoy this Printable Disney Banner too!! Even if you’re not planning a Disney trip, it can be used for parties, or just for fun.

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(originally shared March 2016) See, isn’t it fun?! I did Mickey-eared numbers from 1-31, so you can count down the month leading up to your vacation. OR combine numbers for a birthday banner for the special persons age! There are TWENTY pages, with 4 triangle banner pieces per page. Just print them off (I recommend cardstock, but that’s entirely up to you), cut them out, then string or tape where you like.

My hubby had a super idea (when I agreed it was genius, our Thor said ‘wait…what?!’ Guess he needs to come up with great ideas in front of the kids more often, but it sure was funny!) – String up the numbers, then gently tape a character one on top. So each day you take off the character to display the number! Or you can do it in reverse, and life off the number each day to reveal a surprise character. Yup, totally fun!

My kids asked if we would use this the next time we have a Disney vacation – I said definitely, along with my favorite DIY Disney Countdown using a frame and straws! I’m leaving it up in our house just for fun this week 🙂
Download & Print your fun Disney banner HERE

Book your next Disney vacation with Get Away Today for the best deals – use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your vacation package!

Other Disney fun…

Disney's New Paint the Night Parade is my favorite Disneyland parade yet! by BusyMomsHelper.com Our experience with Paint the Night Parade with kids was fantastic!

Disneyland's 60th Diamond Celebration / by BusyMomsHelper.com

Star Wars Half Marathon by Nikki Christiansen for Busy Mom's Helper

Free Printable Disneyland Height Requirements / by Busy Mom's Helper / Free Printable California Adventure Height Requirements

Preparing for Star Wars Land

March 20, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disney travel has been a hot topic since opening dates for their new Star Wars Land were announced. With Disneyland’s opening May 31st and Walt Disney World’s opening August 29th, it’s earlier than most had anticipated (especially Disney World, which was originally ‘late fall’!). This means many who had planned to travel around the openings to avoid the chaos and crowds are having to rethink their trip dates. Whether you’re switching things around to avoid anytime near the opening, hitting up opening week or aren’t quite sure – here’s some tips on Preparing for Star Wars Land!

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(some photos courtesy of Disney, used with permission)

While nobody REALLY knows what to expect from these huge openings – since there’s nothing really to compare it to except perhaps the Harry Potter lands at Universal – we can make some assumptions and plan as best as possible. What we do know is that for Disneyland’s opening, it will be on a ‘reservation basis’. The details are still a bit fuzzy, but it seems that instead of getting to the park hours ahead of time with the hopes of getting in, people will reserve what ‘time’ they can return to enter into Star Wars Land. Disney World’s version – located in the Hollywood Studios park – won’t be doing a reservation system, and neither park will be doing FastPass/FastPass+. While some are upset at this, I read an article that explains some of the math behind this, which makes sense and actually benefits pretty much everyone.

After several conversations with others, looking at similar times such as Universal’s Harry Potter openings and Pandora over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there’s some tips we’ve all agreed upon that can help us prepare for Star Wars Land the best we can, given the overall uncertainty of how things will be.

1 – It WILL be crowded

There’s no sugar-coating it, the park WILL be insanely crowded – and not just opening week, but for quite a long time after. If you look at when Pandora opened, there were still long waits for Flights of Passage more than a year later, and this is STAR WARS (so a much more crazy fan base – I can say that because I’m included!). Yes, the few weeks or months after opening will be the absolute worst, but it won’t die down significantly until much later. Also, only the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will open at first – their second attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, won’t open until a bit later (still no open date for it). That means you’ll have the crowds coming first for the whole area (food, sites, shops, etc.) and one ride, then a big surge AGAIN when they open the second attraction. Some people will wait until both are open, so it’s likely that the second surge will be as busy – if not more so – than the first.

As you plan, just accept that there will be crowds (and if you’re not okay with that, perhaps plan for a year or two out when it may start to mellow) and go in with that as your expectation. Plan to be more patient, wait around longer, be more crowded, and certainly not able to fit in as much into your day. Decide if that’s worth it to you when picking your travel dates.

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2 – Arrive early

Since Disneyland is doing a reservation basis for awhile, this applies mostly to Walt Disney World – get to the gates early. If you’re staying on-site, try to catch the first or second shuttle to the parks to help you be some of the first there. Note: This is for a bit AFTER opening day, as they’re anticipating people may even camp out for that part! But after that initial time, just try your best to get there early enough that you should be in the first few groups allowed into Star Wars Land. As they did with Pandora’s opening, it may be that a certain amount of people get in first, then they have a time limit inside the ‘land’. Once that’s up, another group or number of people get in, and so forth. Not sure if that’s how they’ll handle crowds this time, but given the amount of people and limited room inside the area, they’ll have to limit it somehow. Being early helps ensure you’ll be able to get in at least some point.

3 – Plan a whole day

Since there’s no guarantee how long it’ll take to get INTO the area, or how long you’ll be allowed once in there, it’s probably best to just plan a whole day for that park. Arrive early so you can get in sooner than the later arrivals, be prepared for lines and waits – then after you enjoy what we’re expecting to be an INCREDIBLE experience in Star Wars Land – you can decide where to go from there based on how long all of that took in the day. Perhaps schedule FastPass/FastPass+ for later in the day, just in case – but you’d hate to have a reservation around 11am only to arrive and find out you will barely be entering that land around then. Don’t rush yourself, as that will add stress and pressure – which isn’t helpful on vacation!

4 – Set priorities

If you’re a huge Star Wars fan (like us!) then you’ll likely put attendance here at the top of your list for your vacation must-dos. If crowds and long lines aren’t your style, and you aren’t too disappointed about waiting longer to see it all, then perhaps waiting a year or so until the crowds die down is the best choice for you. Decide what YOU really want for your vacation. Maybe you’ll still go and have a blast at the other parks, and just avoid this one for now because it isn’t as important to you. For us, we arranged our entire trip schedule so we can attend two days at Hollywood Studios, hoping that will be enough to see and do it all at Star Wars Land – but that’s because it’s high on our priorities.

Also decide if just dealing with lines for the RIDE is what matters, then you choose to hurry out of there to less crowded areas – or perhaps you can’t wait to try the FOOD at the various locations, so those lines are a better use of your time. Also, even if you WANT to see everything, still list out your priorities for once you’re in Star Wars Land in case it takes more time than you planned. For example, if you really want to do the ride AND try the foods, but the waits were too long and time will be out after you do the ride and only one quick service place, know beforehand which one will take that spot out of your schedule.

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5 – Be ready

Overall, you need to not only have your expectations set realistically and have a good plan – because who knows how timing or crowds or lines will work out – but also make sure YOU are ready. Do you have something to keep yourself (or your kids) entertained in a several-hours-long ride line? Do you have the proper bag and supplies to last you through a very crowded, long day? Be sure you have things like water bottles, great shoes (because all the walking and standing), sunscreen and maybe a hat, plus snacks. After all, if the line wait is 7 hours long, you’re gonna get hungry! Be sure to take care of yourself while tackling Star Wars Land, for your sake AND for the sake of those around you – nobody wants to be in a crowd full of cranky, miserable people when they’re in the happiest place in the galaxy!

Are you going to Star Wars Land this year?

5 Worst Disney World Quick Service Restaurants

March 13, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

There are plenty of great places to eat at Walt Disney World. Food has become a focus of the company ever since the massive success of the Epcot Festivals and the rise of food blogging and instagram. In order to get you to hashtag your hashbrowns, Disney comes up with some incredible stuff! While the many unique food items to come out seasonally are ‘hit and miss’ several permanent menus at counter service locations have shown improvement. Since there are so many counter service locations that will enhance your vacation experience on a budget, here are 5 Worst Disney World Quick Service Restaurants so you can limit the list.

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Electric Umbrella

This is easily one of the worst counter service restaurants in Epcot. It’s a little unfair, because Epcot has so many quick service locations to choose from. However, that’s precisely the problem. Electric Umbrella is standard theme park fast food in a park that celebrates world cultures and cuisine and even grows its own produce. Electric Umbrella is the first dining location you come to in Epcot and it’s best to keep moving.

Cosmic Rays

Cosmic Rays is not a terrible place to eat, but it serves very basic food that just does not taste very impressive. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe, Columbia Harbor House and Casey’s Corner are all far better places to spend your time and money in Magic Kingdom. Best yet, try the lunch at Be Our Guest restaurant because it’s still quick service!

Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe

Please note this is different than the Yak and Yeti table service place, which we really enjoy.This food stand on the pathway from Asia to Africa in the Animal Kingdom park is a bit of a let down. While it has the right mix of food to satisfy a family with different tastes, the quality of the food is a mixed bag as well. Depending on what you order, this can be an acceptable stop or a disappointment.

With so many snack carts and Flame Tree Barbecue (which can also give you the most bang for your buck) so close, don’t take the risk here. Or head over to Satu’li Canteen because holy cow it’s tasty (and unique)!

Refreshment Outpost

Back to Epcot – this is the second worst counter service restaurant in Disney World. In the African Outpost, you have to be starving and somehow unable to move another hundred feet. If you like basic hotdogs but hate bratwurst, then you’re the target audience at Refreshment outpost. The food stand literally only serves a basic hot dog, along with soft serve, slushes and beverages. I can only see stopping here for a quick snack for your child if you have to (and we all know those instances do happen). Otherwise, you should ignore it and move on. NOTE: The exception to this is during festivals when it has special offerings!

PizzeRizzo

The absolute worst counter service in Disney World has got to be PizzeRizzo. No one liked it the first time when it was Pizza Planet. The pizza is the same and it’s the worst pizza on Disney Property. Even worse, the restaurant themed to the zany and nonsensical Muppets completely misses the mark on decor. There is a fair amount of seating because nobody likes it. At this point, it’s only open seasonally as a way to prevent overcrowding. Backlot Express and ABC Commissary are much better alternatives, but you really shouldn’t go to Hollywood Studios without dining at the many themed table service restaurants they have there (we’re trying the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater on our next visit!)

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What’s your favorite quick service Disney World restaurant?

7 Things to NEVER Bring to Disney World, plus 10 You MUST!

March 6, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We’re definitely not Disney newbies anymore – that ship sailed long ago, and we consider ourselves veterans at this point. With our many visits to the parks, we’ve learned well what items are truly useful to bother bringing, but also items that should be left at home or in the hotel. There’s many times when I’ve been going through security and saw a frazzled family being stopped because what they thought would be a wise packing choice ended up being a big regret. Save yourself the hassle, and avoid these 7 Things to NEVER Bring to Disney World, plus 10 You MUST!

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I previously shared about what you should pack for Disney trips, and even one that’s specific to Disney World packing ideas, but after so many people loved our 7 things to never bring on a cruise plus 10 you must – and asked us to do a Disney park version, we couldn’t resist! You don’t want to get to security – excited for all the rides, foods, parades, characters and fireworks – just to be told you have to either throw something away or even take it back to your hotel room.

Keep in mind, Disney has an extensive list HERE that tells more specifically what isn’t allowed in the parks. Security is thorough, so don’t try to be sneaky and dishonest – this causes risks for everyone, and you don’t want to be responsible for ruining anyones magical vacation, especially yours!

Things to NEVER Bring to Disney World:

Selfie Stick – not only can this be annoying to others on a ride or trying to walk through the already-crowded streets, but it can be a hazard on rides
Glass – bottles, containers, even glass make-up things can be declined. One year they almost emptied my bag because I had a square lip balm in there, and the clear plastic looked like glass. They ended up letting it through once they realize it wasn’t glass, but wow
Hard-Sided Coolers – you can bring in smaller soft-sided ones, but leave the hard outsides either at your hotel, rent a locker, or just leave them home. This is probably to avoid theft, or the risk of someone bringing in items they shouldn’t
Drones – while it’s fun to get cool aerial shots, I’m sure you can see the chaos and danger with bringing these, so just leave them home
Shoes with built-in wheels – while this may seem a good idea for the kiddos to ‘roll’ along instead of walk, they’re not allowed at Disney because it could cause too many bumps, bruises, falls or plain chaos. Imagine everyone running around – that’s about the crazy of kids rolling around
Bags with Wheels – I’ve seen people trying to bring in their rolly-bags, only to be stopped and given a firm NO. Totally understand not wanting to carry a bag on your back all day, but it’s such a tripping hazard in the crowds
Folding Chairs – I know, long lines make you want to rest, but then you’re a bit SOL on the ride, huh? Also may seem smart for parades, but just bring a blanket (that you don’t mind getting dirty) and planning ahead

BONUS: Wrapped Presents – a birthday party or other celebration at a Disney park sounds amazing, but they have to be able to inspect everything you bring in, so sadly if you bring a wrapped present, they’ll have to open it up. Just do a cute gift bag instead!

FUNNY BONUS: Cremated Remains – yes, I’m serious. Plenty of people have been caught trying to bring in vases or other vessels holding remains of their loved ones (either to ‘enjoy the park with us’ or to try and spread them around, especially at the Haunted Mansion). They’ll catch you, you’ll get in trouble – so just don’t

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Things you MUST Bring to Disney World (or at least really should):

Lip Balm – between the sun, lots of food (and hopefully plenty of hydrating) and rides, your lips are definitely going to be needing it
Sunscreen – I understand some people burn easier than others, but wouldn’t you rather be extra safe just in case, instead of risking all the pain of a sunburn for the rest of your trip?
Blister Prevention – If you haven’t been to a Disney park before, you may not understand when people say a LOT of walking – it’s a whole new level of LOT! Your toes, heels and pads of your feet will be screaming by the end of the day, so be sure to have moleskin and blister bandaids in case
Flexible Bag – you know you need a bag to carry things (tickets, phone, etc) but make sure it’s not TOO big or TOO rigid, or you’ll have a hard time stowing it on the rides
Ziploc Baggies – several sizes; you’ll need them for putting things in you don’t want wet (on water rides or in the rain), store leftover snacks, or even if someone gets sick and you just can’t get to a garbage or bathroom in time (yes, I’ve seen this happen at the parks plenty)
Battery Backup – we all love our phones, especially for those awesome photos of the kiddos, but make sure you have enough spare juice to last you the entire day
Sanitizer/Wipes – with that many people, I don’t even want to think about how many germs are there. Wash your hands often, and bring sanitizer for those random moments (a sticky handrail isn’t a nice surprise) and nab a pack of wet wipes like this one for the many messes!
Sunglasses – it’s bright, the wind blows in your face (even on fast indoor rides), so give your peeps some protection
Tissues – the last thing you need is getting a runny nose, watery eyes (totally happens to me on the fast indoor rides!) or whatever that you need a tissue fast, but aren’t close to a bathroom
Collapsible Water Bottle – it’s super important to stay hydrated, but you can’t (and don’t want to) take a full water bottle on the rides. These water bottles have been amazing for all of our trips, hold enough water for awhile, then we just finish it off and fold them up for the rides. Love it!

BONUS: Rubber Bands/Hair Bands – if you get a caricature like us, or the kiddos make a drawing at one of the kid stations in Epcot, you need to be able to roll it up to safely transport it home, so secure it with a rubber band or hair tie!

Enjoy some Disney-themed trip planning printables in our ‘busy family pack‘ – and don’t forget our Autograph & Activity book!

Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

Fly with Toothless at iFly

March 2, 2019 by Danielle 1 Comment

We received a complimentary visit to try this flying adventure. All opinions are mine alone.

We’ve all dreamed of flying with dragons – and now you can really experience the adventure and Fly with Toothless at iFly! Dreamworks and iFly have teamed up for the release of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to offer you an unforgettable experience that the whole family will be talking about for a long time to come. Our family had the opportunity to try out this unbelieve Virtual Reality experience, and we’re still on cloud 9!

Our family was a mix of excitement and nervousness, as we had no clue what to expect from our exciting evening. Despite a few fears, even the littles couldn’t wait to try it out and were talking about it for many days leading up to our appointment! We went to the Dallas location, but the How to Train Your Dragon virtual reality experience is available nationwide (there’s over 30 locations in the U.S.) exclusively at iFly.

First of all, the basics: While you can enjoy iFly indoor skydiving as young as 3 years old, the Virtual Reality (VR) experiences are for ages 6 and up and for weights up to 260 pounds. As first time flyers (but now definite repeats!), our package included a short training to start – so they could explain how it works and the various hand signals used in the wind tunnel – as well as two 1-minute flights each before the VR.

They provide the jumpsuits (can fit over regular clothes, just don’t wear something bulky), helmets, goggles and foam ear plugs. You do need to wear closed-toe shoes that won’t slip off.

I knew they worked with younger kids, but was still nervous if they’d have something that fit my littles – but they had quite the variety and had the right thing for all 7 of us! Don’t we look adorable in our gear? 😉

I’m so glad we got to try out the regular flight before, because you can really get a feel for the wind blowing and the instructor guiding your body around as you fly. Especially for the kiddos, I don’t know how they would’ve done having a VR set on without knowing their ‘real’ surroundings first. Plus we could experience the VR better as we weren’t as ‘flingy’ as the first flight!

If your kiddos are a bit unsure like some of mine were, don’t worry – the instructors are incredible, preparing us with all the information beforehand and guiding us every step of the way. Ashley was with our crew, and I can’t speak highly enough of her. She kept it extremely fun, safe and was super patient with some of my littles that were more CLINGY….

If you’re wondering – after this first flight of his, he had his arms fully out for the second, so we were thrilled at his progress and feeling more at ease! Just from the flights, the kiddos were begging to come back again soon – and we hadn’t even done the awesome VR, yet!

Now it was time for the BIG event – flying like a dragon! We raced Toothless and Astrid, but you can also pick Hiccup if you’d rather him. They get you all equipped with the VR headset outside of the tunnel, making sure it’s working and you can see. Then you begin your race in a fully-immersive and exhilarating adventure through the world of Berk from the new film How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World!

The instructor has you the entire time, moving you around so your flight is totally life-like. They have a screen so the instructor can see exactly what you see, so they can move you perfectly around the mountains, hills or other obstacles you may encounter.

Feel free to look around as much as you’d like, because there’s stuff to see ALL AROUND YOU, not just in front! It was so incredible to soar right along our beloved dragon Toothless, and really feel what it’s like to fly. This breathtaking journey is unforgettable, and it’s truly a family experience I recommend for everyone that’s able. My kids are STILL talking about it, and can’t to go back as soon as we can. Be sure to ask them about return pass deals when you’re there, because that’s when you can get the best prices!

Of all the exciting things I’ve had the privilege of doing for this site, I can honestly say that this was definitely in my top 10 favorites! Hurry and schedule your time to try out this incredible VR experience to feel and see for yourself what it really is like to fly like a dragon!

Who’s YOUR favorite from How to Train Your Dragon?

Meet Michael’s VIPs

February 27, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I was provided tour guide services to facilitate this review. As always, all opinions are mine alone and I will only promote services I truly enjoy and recommend.

Since I don’t want to overwhelm y’all with a zillion posts from my incredible trip to Florida, I’ll be spreading them out over the next couple months because there’s SO MUCH to share with you! For now, I’m thrilled to let you Meet Michael’s VIPs, the amazing private tour guide company that I had the privilege of working with and trying out their services. Guys, they were PHENOMENAL, and made the trip a million times less stressful – plus we got to experience a lot more – than if we’d tackled the parks by ourselves.

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So what exactly is Michael’s VIPs? They’re a private tour guide company in Central Florida you can hire for your trip to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World – or even other locations in the area! They’ve learned the ins and outs of all these parks, and I was astonished all the knowledge they have of the history, operations and happenings. So why choose Michael’s VIPs?

Michael’s was founded by a former Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide in 1999, and they’ve grown like crazy from the amazing recommendations they receive from happy clients. Once people experience the parks with such a valuable guide, they learn that it’s the best way to vacation! Now, normally they try to put you with the same guide for the duration of your trip, but since we wanted to get to know a few of their guides and see what each of them had to offer, we were joined by a new guide each day for a different park. Without further ado, let me introduce you to the great staff we got to enjoy for our trip!

Renee – Magic Kingdom

You know those people that are so sweet, full of sunshine and energy, and you can’t help but absolutely adore? That would be Renee! She was so much fun, and her bubbly personality made the Magic Kingdom that much more magical – it was almost contagious. We loved hearing about her previous jobs at Disney, and got to ride everything we wanted that day. When our Jungle Cruise fast passes were going to make us late for our reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table for lunch, she worked some magic and fit it in afterwards without much of a wait. She knew where all the fun play areas for kids were around the park, as well as some entertaining cue lines.

She talked about the families she’s worked with before (many repeats, because you can’t help but love Renee!) with such fondness, you could tell she really loves her job. We called her our ‘walking, talking guide map‘ because she knew exactly where to go, including some shortcuts, so we didn’t waste time wandering lost. Since she’d worked for Disney before, she was able to tell us a lot about the changes made in the past, how certain things are done, how the shows and entertainment has evolved, and much more. Oh, and we had a great time chatting everything Star Wars!!!

With her excitement for all the magic of Disney, plus how much she got into the spirit of it and totally adored the kids all around, I highly recommend her for families with kids. Or just a girls day – since it was just my mom and I, it was a great start to the trip! She even checked in on us later in the week to make sure we were having a great time. Thank you Renee!

Jason – Universal Studios

While there’s rules in Disney that their employees can’t also do an outside guide service, Universal doesn’t – so Jason does Michael’s VIPS AND works in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Needless to say, this made him super knowledgeable and perfect for these parks. I lost count of how many people working said ‘hi’ to him as we were there. Like all the guides, Jason knew exactly where to go, the best order/ways to do rides, and when shows were happening. He was also full of information so we could learn more about the history and operations of Universal.

Jason was sure to show us all the kid areas, too, since Universal does lean more towards older kids. I hadn’t realized there were some really fun places for the younger group, too! He was great to not tell us if a ride was ‘good’ or not beforehand, letting us judge for ourselves. And since my mom was worried about getting sick on Forbidden Journey – the ride he actually works as Lead on – he had tips to help keep the motion sickness at bay. When Hogwarts Express was down for the day for repairs, he smoothly adjusted our plans and schedule without missing a beat. Amazing!

It was such a fun day, and we had a blast talking with Jason! It’s one thing to look around the parks and ride the rides, but it was even better because we were learning about it all, as well. I think Jason’s the perfect guide for Universal & the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and think he’d do great with a family with teens – they’d love chatting with him and going on the bigger rides! Oh, and he was such a gentleman, helping us carry our ridiculous amount of bags 😀 Thank you Jason!

Chris – Animal Kingdom

Chris is a former entertainer/stuntman for Disney, and you can tell he has the entertainer personality! Just super friendly, easy to chat with, and as with all of Michael’s VIPs he knows all the ins and outs of the parks. He joined us for breakfast to start off the day, and helped us take photos with characters and throughout the park (the Tree of Life was incredible, y’all!). He talked with us throughout the day on how WE wanted to spend out time, when we were ready to call it a day, and what we thought of the rides and shows we did. He even knew the best spots for each of the shows, so we had a great view.

He was even prepared with ponchos for Kali River Rapids – check out how ‘cute’ my mom and I are in this picture he snapped for us from the bridge…

Chris is the perfect private tour guide for a high-energy group looking for an exciting, stress-free, fun-filled time with lots of entertainment and stories! Thanks Chris!

Rob – Hollywood Studios

You know those people who can spout out amazing facts about pretty much everything? Yup, that’s Rob when it comes to Disney World things, including Walt Disney himself! We learned so much, and had a great time touring Hollywood Studios. When we went longer than expected at lunch, Rob took care of switching fast passes (during lunch, without anyone noticing – these guys have such a knowledge of the My Disney Experience App and can fix things on the go!) so our afternoon wasn’t thrown completely off. We got to try every ride and show we wanted, and even though the layout of this particular park is wacky, he knew right where to go.

He knew I was a Star Wars fan, just like him, so he made sure to wear his Millennium Falcon shirt for our day together! Kylo Ren wasn’t too fond of it though – haha! Rob would be especially great for those groups looking to not only have a super fun time in the parks, but also learn more about their history AND future plans (Toy Story Land & Star Wars Land – can’t wait!). Oh, and he takes GREAT ride photos 😉 Thanks Rob!

Adam – Manager of Michael’s VIPs

For the past 7-8 months of planning (remember, you have to do dining 180 days prior, and fast passes 30-60 days), I’ve been in contact with Adam, the head guy now over at Michael’s VIPs. He was super helpful when we were deciding plans, recommending things and answering my million and one questions with ease. Once we agreed on a plan, he took care of the fast passes and meal reservations for me so I didn’t have to figure out the system or wake up super early for those hard-to-get dining times!

He stopped in a couple of times during our visit to check on things, and was ‘That Guy’ in the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor show, which was hilarious for us. Not only was Adam professional and helpful with all the planning – and patiently dealt with any changes I needed – but also is just a downright friendly and easy to talk to guy. The guides had nothing but amazing things to say about him – and you know someone’s a great person if their employees think that highly of them! You rock, Adam!

Thank you so much Adam & the rest of the team at Michael’s VIPs for an unforgettable trip! Hopefully we’ll see you again soon!

For tickets or hotel deals, be sure to check out Get Away Today for the best prices – plus use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for even more savings!

Don’t Miss These Other Great Posts

Tour Guides for Couples – is it worth it for JUST you two?

Tour Guides for Families

How to Avoid Lines at Disney

TEN Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs in Orlando

5 Great Places to Eat Breakfast at Disneyland

February 20, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially if you’re going to be walking around a theme park for hours. You’ll need a lot of energy to get you through all those steps and the crowds, so make a smart decision and start the day off right at one of these 5 Great Places to Eat Breakfast at Disneyland! While there’s breakfast options at Disneyland that can be as magical as any ride, there are also options for those in a hurry to get going. Whether you’re a regular breakfast eater or not, here are some of the best suggestions of what to eat when you start your day at the happiest place on earth.

Carnation Cafe

At Carnation Cafe on Main Street USA, you can take in the timeless scenery while you enjoy a classic American breakfast at Disneyland. Country Fried Steak and Eggs, Pancakes, or Mickey Waffles are also on the menu. Kick back and gear up for a full day of fun by stopping here before you begin your adventure. It’s also a great location to sit outside in the shade and watch all the excited, eager faces as they make their way into the park!

Jolly Holiday

This Mary Poppins inspired bakery is a lovely place to enjoy a fast breakfast pastry and some coffee. It has such darling charm to it! There’s a patio that overlooks the hub for you to relax at (as long as you aren’t too anxious to get going) – but you can also walk with your food if you need to make time while enjoying breakfast at Disneyland.

Plaza Inn

If one thing will keep the kids entertained while you get fueled up for a long day of excitement, it’s character dining. The Plaza Inn offers pastries, cereals, eggs, breakfast meats, french toast, Mickey waffles, biscuits and gravy, as well as made to order omelets. They’ve got the bases covered, and classic Disney characters come around to the tables. Plaza Inn is also on the hub at the end of Main Street on the right side, near the entrance to Tomorrowland.

Red Rose Taverne

If you decide to get a little bit of a head start on the rides, one of the best plans is to do a few attractions in Fantasyland and then take a break at Red Rose Taverne. Afterwards, you can explore more of Fantasyland, or continue west toward Frontierland. The Red Rose Taverne is inspired by Belle’s provincial town in Beauty and the Beast! There’s a warm and cozy indoor atmosphere as well as plenty of outdoor seating with a view of Casey Junior. The food is quick service, but this is one place where you can get seasonal treats mixed in with the regular menu – as well as Mickey Mouse pancakes.

River Belle Terrace

A more formal dining experience awaits at the River Belle Terrace on the outskirts of Adventureland. This restaurant exists at the three point intersection of Frontierland, Adventureland and New Orleans Square. Among the unique breakfast offerings here are the Mark Twain (eggs, breakfast meat, potatoes, biscuits), short rib skillet, and again Mickey Mouse Pancakes. Never take a Mickey waffle when you can have a Mickey Mouse pancake – not everybody does it! River Belle Terrace is in such a great location for a late-morning breakfast after experiencing either Frontierland or Adventureland. Plus, it’s right in front of the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean. Don’t forget to make a reservation for this one!

Best Attraction Gift Shop

Best Restaurant Gift Shop

Best World Showcase Gift Shop

Best General Gift Shop for (Disney World Souvenirs)

Best Hotel Gift Shop

What’s your favorite Disney World Gift Shop?

What’s YOUR favorite Disney ride?

Little-to-No Wait Times

Lots of Free Food

Easy Weekend Trip

Less Crowds

Fun Characters & Activities

What’s your favorite thing about Universal Studios Orlando?

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

#7: More Photos with Your Group

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

#9: They KNOW All The Things

#10: They Work While You Rest

Our goal is fall-ish 2018 taking EVERYONE in my family – when are YOU going to go and give these tour guides a try?

Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida

Hogsmead at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Book your Universal & Harry Potter World Vacation Now – use promo code: BusyMomsHelper for $10 off your package!

Check out other fun family vacation experiences!

Other Disney fun…

1 – It WILL be crowded

2 – Arrive early

3 – Plan a whole day

4 – Set priorities

5 – Be ready

Are you going to Star Wars Land this year?

Electric Umbrella

Cosmic Rays

Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe

Refreshment Outpost

PizzeRizzo

What’s your favorite quick service Disney World restaurant?

Things to NEVER Bring to Disney World:

Things you MUST Bring to Disney World (or at least really should):

Enjoy some Disney-themed trip planning printables in our ‘busy family pack‘ – and don’t forget our Autograph & Activity book!

Who’s YOUR favorite from How to Train Your Dragon?

Renee – Magic Kingdom

Jason – Universal Studios

Chris – Animal Kingdom

Rob – Hollywood Studios

Adam – Manager of Michael’s VIPs

Thank you so much Adam & the rest of the team at Michael’s VIPs for an unforgettable trip! Hopefully we’ll see you again soon!

Don’t Miss These Other Great Posts

Carnation Cafe

Jolly Holiday

Plaza Inn

Red Rose Taverne

River Belle Terrace

Where’s your favorite place for breakfast at Disneyland?